MMO Free Agent Profile: Josh Donaldson, 3B
Josh Donaldson
Position: Third Base
Bats/Throws: Right
Age: 33; December 8, 1985
2019 Traditional Stats: .259/.379/.521, 37 HR, 33 2B, 94 RBIs, 100 BB, 155 K
Advanced Stats: .132 wRC+, 4.9 fWAR; +15 DRS, 2.1 UZR/150 in 1,297 innings at 3B
Originally a non-roster Spring Training invitee in 2009, Josh Donaldson played in 89 games for the Oakland Athletics between the 2010 and 2012 seasons (spent all of 2011 in the minors) before breaking out in 2013 with a .301/.384/.499 slash line, 24 homers, and 93 RBIs over 158 games played (668 PA).
After experiencing a slight downturn in 2014 (.255/.342/.456, 29 HR, 98 RBIs), the then-28-year-old was traded to Toronto that offseason in exchange for left-hander Sean Nolin, infielder Brett Lawrie, right-hander Kendall Graveman, and minor-league shortstop Franklin Barreto.
All The Bringer Of Rain did in his first season north of the border was hit .297/.371/.568 with 41 homers, 41 doubles, a league-leading 123 RBIs, and a majors-leading 122 runs scored, securing his first and only American League MVP award.
Donaldson followed up his award-winning 2015 campaign with two more solid seasons in Toronto (.278/.396/.553 over 268 combined games between 2016 and 2017) before playing in just 52 games during an injury-marred 2018 (.234/.333/.423 over 36 games with Toronto; .280/.400/.520 over 16 games with Cleveland after being traded on August 31).
Heading into the 2018-2019 offseason as a free agent for the first time in his career, Donaldson settled for a one-year, $23 million “prove it” deal with the Atlanta Braves.
That particular risk paid off handsomely for Atlanta, with the now-33-year-old hitting .259/.379/.521 with 37 homers, 33 doubles, and 94 RBIs over 155 games (659 PA) for the National League East champions.
Donaldson’s 4.9 wins above replacement (FanGraphs) ranked 10th among qualified NL hitters in 2019, his 131 wRC+ ranked 15th, his .371 wOBA was good for 16th, and his 100 bases-on-balls was fourth-most in the league (Rhys Hoskins, Phillies, 116 BB).
Contract
With the presence of fellow hot corner resident Anthony Rendon on the free-agent market, as well, Josh Donaldson may inadvertently slide into the 1B tier of available hitters.
If Rendon (.319/.412/.598, 34 HR, 117 RBIs, 7.0 fWAR in 2019), 29, commands somewhere in the neighborhood of, let’s estimate, $30 million AAV this offseason, nabbing Donaldson’s comparable services for a shade cheaper could a be a huge score for an interested team.
A three-year deal averaging $25 million per season could be a starting point for said teams. Whether the nine-year MLB veteran accepts that hypothetical figure — or if the market remains as stagnant as it’s been over the last two years — remains to be seen.
Recommendation
Todd Frazier’s departure leaves a hole at third base for the Mets in 2020. Jeff McNeil has shown the ability to play the position capably, but he also plays second base and left field pretty darn well, too.
Jed Lowrie’s return to being an everyday player is no certainty, but with him on the roster, as well as Robinson Cano, McNeil and/or J.D. Davis (as long as he improves his glove at the position) manning third base could be a viable plan for whoever is at the helm of the Mets this season.
Donaldson would certainly add an exciting dynamic to the Mets’ lineup, and his defense at third base is absolutely outstanding, but his price tag may be a bit too much for this organization to take on considering their track record in similar situations over the last decade or so.
By Tim Ryder